This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28918792
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Syria conflict: Islamic State seizes Tabqa airbase | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Fighters from Islamic State (IS) have taken control of a key Syrian government airbase, activists say. | Fighters from Islamic State (IS) have taken control of a key Syrian government airbase, activists say. |
| The Tabqa airbase was the last remaining stronghold of Bashar al-Assad's government in Raqqa province. | The Tabqa airbase was the last remaining stronghold of Bashar al-Assad's government in Raqqa province. |
| Syrian state TV confirmed that government forces had "evacuated" the airbase, saying they were "regrouping" and were conducting airstrikes. | |
| More than 191,000 people have now been killed in the three-year-old Syrian conflict up to April, the UN says. | More than 191,000 people have now been killed in the three-year-old Syrian conflict up to April, the UN says. |
| IS, formerly known as Isis, has expanded its reach into large parts of eastern Syria and northern Iraq in recent months. | IS, formerly known as Isis, has expanded its reach into large parts of eastern Syria and northern Iraq in recent months. |
| The US has launched limited airstrikes against the group in Iraq but has not targeted them in Syria. | The US has launched limited airstrikes against the group in Iraq but has not targeted them in Syria. |
| 'Heavy fighting' | 'Heavy fighting' |
| The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based activist group with opposition ties, said clashes around the airbase were ongoing but added that the base was under IS control. | The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based activist group with opposition ties, said clashes around the airbase were ongoing but added that the base was under IS control. |
| Hundreds of soldiers and IS fighters had died in the past few days' fighting around the base, the Observatory said. | |
| Syrian state television confirmed that government troops had lost control of the base. | Syrian state television confirmed that government troops had lost control of the base. |
| "After heavy fighting by the forces defending the Tabqa airbase, our forces implemented a regrouping operation after the evacuation of the airbase," it said. | "After heavy fighting by the forces defending the Tabqa airbase, our forces implemented a regrouping operation after the evacuation of the airbase," it said. |
| Syria, Iraq and Islamic State | Syria, Iraq and Islamic State |
| One year on from the chemical weapon attack in Damascus, the war in Syria has become part of a wider regional struggle. | One year on from the chemical weapon attack in Damascus, the war in Syria has become part of a wider regional struggle. |
| Syria: The story of the conflict | Syria: The story of the conflict |
| Timeline: From Syria to Iraq | Timeline: From Syria to Iraq |
| In their own words: Chemical attack survivors | In their own words: Chemical attack survivors |
| Interactive: The rise of Islamic State | Interactive: The rise of Islamic State |
| Analysis: Nature of IS threat | Analysis: Nature of IS threat |
| The base lies around 45km (30 miles) outside Raqqa city, the main powerbase of IS, and is believed to hold dozens of warplanes, helicopters, tanks and artillery. | The base lies around 45km (30 miles) outside Raqqa city, the main powerbase of IS, and is believed to hold dozens of warplanes, helicopters, tanks and artillery. |
| Analysts say the fall of the base is a significant blow for the Syrian government's ability to project air power into the north of the country. | Analysts say the fall of the base is a significant blow for the Syrian government's ability to project air power into the north of the country. |
| The base was the last remaining government outpost in the province, the BBC's Sebastian Usher reports. | |
| The militants have celebrated previous victories over two other bases by displaying the severed heads of soldiers in the middle of the town, our correspondent adds. | |
| IS fighters have steadily taken over several government military bases in Raqqa province in recent weeks, including the Division 17 base just outside Raqqa town. | IS fighters have steadily taken over several government military bases in Raqqa province in recent weeks, including the Division 17 base just outside Raqqa town. |
| In a separate incident, Syrian government forces killed 32 rebels in an ambush in Deraa in southern Syria, activists said. | In a separate incident, Syrian government forces killed 32 rebels in an ambush in Deraa in southern Syria, activists said. |
| State media confirmed the attack, and said tens of fighters had been killed. | State media confirmed the attack, and said tens of fighters had been killed. |
| Opposition groups in Syria have been fighting President Bashar al-Assad since 2011. | Opposition groups in Syria have been fighting President Bashar al-Assad since 2011. |